Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-06-04
THE STORY OF 4 NIGHT.


that she had heard Alright.
aTen O'clock" she said, half alouds
"auite time James were here" Rising, she
walked to the window and drew aside the
shade.
It was a wild night without; utterly dark
and storming dercely, as she could tell by
the clamor Of the wind. as with loud shrek
OF prolonged roar it swept about the place.
She strove to peer into the darkness,
and shuddered as she thought OF the perils
to which belated wayfarer would be eI-
posed. The cold was intense, and the
drifts must be piled high along the way.
Then she raised the window slightly and
put out her hand. that she might feel the
force Of the storm.
A fierce gust entered through the apOr-
ture, sending the singing fakes Of snow
against her face and arms. She closed the
window quickly and returned shivering to
her seat before the fire.
james viii not come home tonight;
surely he viii not venture, F" she said aloud
as if TO reassure herself and vanish any
fears that ventured 70 suggest themselves.
She drew her chair nearer the grates and,
taking up her book endeavored to resume
reading; but the subject had lOstits interest
for her, and after a time, she laid the
book aside, and leaning her head upon her
hand, fell into a reverie.
She was a widow, and her only sen,
James Edgerton, was the favorite physician
in the small western city in which they
lived.
He was all in all to her, and though
given to having her way with others, to
him she always yielded.
Late in the afternoon Of this day he had
been called out Of town several miles to
see q patient. She had begged him not to
20, but he was not to be persuaded, and
promising to return the early part Of the
evening. he had gone.
She was q handsoms woman, strong Of
will, nerve, and body, if one might judge
from her face and form, and one not likely
to indulge strange fancies, pleasant OF
otherwise; but tonight her thoughts
slipped from their wonted bonds Of con-
troll and ran unpleasant riot through hor
brain.
Common sense, to whom she vas in the
habit Of listening, told her that her son
would remain at the home Of his patient
until the storm abatsd. But she forgot its
assurance, when Imagination pictured him
snow-bound, or lost in one Of the drifts,
which she knew must block the way.
At length she could remain quiet No
longer, and rising she stirred the fire and
put on more fuel, and soon the room,
which had grown somewhat chilled, wa
warmed by its bright glow.
Filled with restlessness she could moi
control, she paced the length of the room
HegH. Eg.k. ia.
walls, but distinguishing nothing but the
noise Of the storm without
An hour passed thus; then worn out will
her vigil. she laid down upon a sofa op-
pOsite the furnace and closed her eyes.
After a time, how long she knew not
she was aroused by the sound Of the clos
ing of the outer door.
flames has come, she thought, with
glad throb at her heart. Then steps cam,
through the hall-James' step. She hearC
the sound Of the latch as it turned. the doc
Of the room opened; she felt the breath o
the cool outer air, and her son entered
She rose TO meet him, with 4 glad CT,
upon her lips, but the words refused t
leave them. She could not move; an IN
known force held her to the spot. She fel
herself freezing with q terror she could no
understand yet every faculty was alert an
every nerve strained
The physician's clothes were covere
with an icy coating Of sleet. He Wake
TO the fire, without seeming to see hi
mother, and stretched his hands ont to tn
warmth. Soon he turned toward hen an
his face looked strange and still.
The clock struck one, and she noted tn
stroke as people often note trivial thing
when they are dazed by a sudden sorrow c
trouble.
She stretched her arms toward him, an
cried ont his name.
She felt the cold touch Of his lips upo
her forehead, then he faded from he
sight.
For some moments she remained stand
ing, saying over 20 herself: @Itis a dream.
At length, determined 10 prove to herse
that what she had seen was the result Of
disordered fancy, she tried the inner the
the outer door, both were locked as she ha
left them. She made tour OF the room
and finding everything in their usual orde
resumed her seat.
She tried to throw OF the influence Of b,
dream but she could not, and with sens,
benumbed by the dread it had awakened
her breast, she sat waiting for she EDe
not what.
She was aroused late in the morning b
party Of her friends, with their pastor
their head, who stood silent before he
when she babe them enter
She did not seem surprised to see then
and they were ct a loss as to how they ha
best make known their Grand
@You would tell me Of James, she sais
before their spokesman could frame b
opening sentence.
Her voice sounded cold and hard. an
her face wore the calmness Of despair.
~You must prepare yourself, my del
madam began the clergyman, but she il
terrupted him, in the same measured tone
"He is dead I know it. He came
me this morning"
The men looked askance at each othe
Was the woman mad? Had she read the
message in their faces and her gri,
driven her wild?
Before the question OF her burning ey,
they could only repeat, with stilled hear
and white lips; @He is dead"
The news spread rapidly, for Dr. Edge
ton was vel and widely known, aud Il
house was soon filed with sympathizir
friends and neighbors.
And there, with her sorroR, we viii Iea1
her since our story is rather Of the nlgl
Than Of her.
LEttls remains 20 Be told. Two farmer
rcnt - aE eazly srEand toanWaEds -